Additional security at Everest to safeguard Olympic torch

Due to possible threat that pro-Tibetan protestors could thwart the Olympic torch rally to Everest, the Nepal government has deployed additional security personnel on the base camp of Mt Everest.

Annapurna Post daily quotes a Home Ministry official as saying that security personnel have been deployed to ensure that no one will put obstacle to the torch rally.

Security men with logistics and mountaineering equipment have already been moved to the area.

The soldiers have been given orders to shoot if necessary.

The government has already decided to send at least an army personnel and a policeman as liaison officers with each mountaineering expedition this season to prevent any untoward incident on Everest.

Ang Tshering Sherpa of Nepal Mountaineering Association is coordinating the torch rally in Nepal.

The Chinese government had requested Nepal to ensure safe passage to the torch rally and ban ascent to Everest until May 10 when the torch reached the summit. Government has banned Everest ascent between May 1 and 10. nepalnews.com ia Apr 21 08

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